Sometimes, as with this story, an insignificant happening is what is remembered and cherished after other ‘more significant’ happenings have long since faded. Elizabeth
By Jack Smith, 2/31st Battalion
Teh Kallim, Vol 5, No. 5, December, 1983
June 13th, 1945, the 2/31st Battalion and half the 2/33rd Battalion were on board the USS Howell Sykes, a 23,000 tons Liberty Ship, crossing the equator bound for Morotai.
Chaplain RF Royal of Pleasanton, Texas, a Baptist minister held a service on deck for any Aussie who cared to attend. I attended that service and Chaplain Royal gave me a small New Testament as a sacred token. Monday, 13th June, 1983, I will have carried that token for 38 years, he had impressed me so much.
Recently, I have, through the assistance of Dave Raymond, Commander of Yanks Down Under in the Legion, NSW, and Jack W Flint of the Dimmit, Texas branch of the American Legion, contacted Chaplain Royal. His address for anyone interested is Dr RF Royal, 2151 Central Street, Concord, California 94520.
To quote from Jack Flint’s letter:
Dr RF Royal, now a Doctor of Theology, lives in California. He has Parkinson’s Disease and his wife passed away about a year ago. Therefore, he resides in a convalescent home to have someone prepare his meals and take care of his personal needs.
He remembers giving us the Bibles on the ship and was pleased to hear from me.
Dr Royal’s daughter wrote to me a really beautiful letter. She tells me Dr Royal and his wife, before she died, created a youth library in their head church in Concord, California. She wants me to give her the little Bible to display in a showcase in this church library. She’ll have her Bible as soon as I can get it safely away.
Steve Sharpe, ex 2/33rd Battalion of Armidale Road, Willwarrin, via Kempsey is another who was at the service. He also has his little book still.
NOTES:
Jack Smith: If anybody can help with identifying ‘Jack Smith’ we would appreciate it. There are two names that seem most likely – John Lindsay Smith QX33147 and John Ernest Smith NX462126. But we are not sure.
Morotai: a small island west of New Guinea and south of The Philippines, now part of Indonesia, Allied forces landed on the island in the face of fierce Japanese resistance, a major base was established to help in the liberation of The Philippines.
Liberty Ships: a low-cost, mass-produced ship mainly for carrying cargo, built in the USA during World War II to replace the ships lost to German submarines
American Legion Yanks Down Under: The American Legion (www.legion.org) is an organisation similar to Australia’s RSL (Returned Servicemen’s League); ‘Yanks Down Under’ is a branch of the American Legion for American servicemen who live permanently in Australia. The Dave Raymond mentioned in the article is still the commander of the Australian branch. You can contact him at 02/9644 6854 or austraymond@bigpond.com. This is him in the photo.
Gary Roser ( Bass Hill RSL).World War Pearl harbour soldiers remembered.A commemoration service is being held by Bankstown Council, Bankstown RSL Sub-branch and the Yanks Down Under Post No. 1 at the Bankstown Cenotaph near the court house on the corner of The Mall and Chapel Rd, Bankstown.
2nd 31st Battalion 